Contextual breadcrumbs during navigation

ABSTRACT

A system and method of providing contextual breadcrumbs is disclosed. A current page may be caused to be displayed on a device. Contextual breadcrumbs may be caused to be displayed on the current page. The contextual breadcrumbs may comprise a simplified representation of a first different page. The first different page may be different from the current page. The simplified representation of the first different page may comprise context information regarding a function of the first different page. The context information regarding a function of the first different page may comprise a visual representation of functional options of the first different page. At least one of the contextual breadcrumbs may be configured to enable the user to act upon the functional options of the first different page from the current page.

PRIORITY

This application is a Continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityto U.S. application Ser. No. 13/724,979 filed on Dec. 21, 2012, thecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to the technical field ofnavigation of pages, and, in various embodiments, to systems and methodsof providing visual contextual breadcrumbs during the navigation ofpages.

BACKGROUND

When users navigate through a flow of multiple web pages during asession on a website, the users may often become lost as to where theyare, where they came from, and where they are going within the contextof the flow of web pages. Such confusion regarding the context of webpages within the flow of web pages may lead to a negative userexperience on the website.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated by way ofexample and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings,in which like reference numbers indicate similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a network architecture of a system,according to some embodiments, having a client-server architectureconfigured for exchanging data over a network;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting various components of anetwork-based publisher, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of contextual breadcrumbs;

FIG. 4 illustrates another example embodiment of contextual breadcrumbs;

FIG. 5 illustrates yet another example embodiment of contextualbreadcrumbs;

FIG. 6 illustrates yet another example embodiment of contextualbreadcrumbs;

FIG. 7 illustrates yet another example embodiment of contextualbreadcrumbs;

FIGS. 8A-8G illustrate an example embodiment of a flow of multiple pagesaccompanied by contextual breadcrumbs;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example method of providingcontextual breadcrumbs; and

FIG. 10 shows a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the exampleform of a computer system within which a set of instructions may beexecuted to cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description that follows includes illustrative systems, methods,techniques, instruction sequences, and computing machine programproducts that embody illustrative embodiments. In the followingdescription, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details areset forth in order to provide an understanding of various embodiments ofthe inventive subject matter. It will be evident, however, to thoseskilled in the art that embodiments of the inventive subject matter maybe practiced without these specific details. In general, well-knowninstruction instances, protocols, structures, and techniques have notbeen shown in detail.

The present disclosure describes systems and methods of providingcontextual breadcrumbs during the navigation of pages. In someembodiments, the pages may be web pages. However, it is contemplatedthat other types of pages are also within the scope of the presentdisclosure, including, but not limited to, the pages of a softwareapplication that are displayed on a device (e.g., a software applicationon a mobile device). The contextual breadcrumbs may comprise contextinformation of pages. The context information may comprise informationregarding a function of a page and may be carried forward in a visualform to the next page in a flow of pages during navigation. In someembodiments, a minimal and useful part of a page's context may becarried forward. During navigation, the user may branch off along onepath. The user may then subsequently come back to the same branchingpage and branch off along a different path. These paths may berepresented in the contextual breadcrumbs. Context information from onepage in the flow of pages may be carried forward to the next page in theflow of pages. The context information may be accumulated and edited asthe user flows through the pages.

In some embodiments, the contextual breadcrumbs may be provided in theform of one or more floating widgets. A flow of actions (e.g., useractions on an e-commerce site) may be captured in a widget. Variationsin actions may be shown through choices displayed in the widget. In someembodiments, an accumulation of actions may be shown through a cascadeof widgets that allows for properties of the widgets to be changed atany point in the cascade. The changing of properties of the widgets maybe conditioned upon the changes not contradicting or invalidating otherwidget instances. In some embodiments, the properties of a widget may bechanged even if the change does contradict or invalidate another widgetinstance. In some embodiments, the widget affected by this contradictoryor invalidating change may be visually presented in a form indicatingthe contradiction or invalidation. In some embodiments, the affectedwidget may be displayed in a distinguishing color to indicate how it isaffected. For example, the affected widget may be colored red toindicate that the widget is in an error state or an inconsistent state.

In some embodiments, a system may comprise at least one processor, atleast one navigation application, and at least one contextual breadcrumbapplication. The navigation application(s), which may be executable bythe processor(s), may be configured to cause a current page to bedisplayed on a device, and to cause contextual breadcrumbs to bedisplayed on the current page. The contextual breadcrumbs may comprise asimplified representation of a first different page. The first differentpage may be different from the current page. The simplifiedrepresentation of the first different page may comprise contextinformation regarding a function of the first different page.

In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method may comprise causinga current page to be displayed on a device, and causing contextualbreadcrumbs to be displayed on the current page. The contextualbreadcrumbs may comprise a simplified representation of a firstdifferent page. The first different page may be different from thecurrent page. The simplified representation of the first different pagemay comprise context information regarding a function of the firstdifferent page.

In some embodiments, a non-transitory machine-readable storage devicemay store a set of instructions that, when executed by at least oneprocessor, causes the at least one processor to perform operationscomprising causing a current page to be displayed on a device, andcausing contextual breadcrumbs to be displayed on the current page. Thecontextual breadcrumbs may comprise a simplified representation of afirst different page. The first different page may be different from thecurrent page. The simplified representation of the first different pagemay comprise context information regarding a function of the firstdifferent page.

In some embodiments, the first different page may be caused to bedisplayed on the device, and a user action on the first different pagemay be received. In some embodiments, the current web page may be causedto be displayed on the device in response to the user action. In someembodiments, the first different page may comprise a plurality offunctional options, with each functional option of the first differentpage being configured to be acted upon by a user. The user action maycomprise a user action on one of the functional options of the firstdifferent page. The context information of the first different page maycomprise a visual representation of the plurality of functional optionsof the first different page. In some embodiments, the plurality offunctional options of the first different page may comprise actionableinterface elements. In some embodiments, at least one of the contextualbreadcrumbs may be configured to enable the user to act upon theplurality of functional options of the first different page from thecurrent page. In some embodiments, the contextual breadcrumbs mayfurther comprise a simplified representation of the current page and avisual representation of a flow from the simplified representation ofthe first different page to the simplified representation of the currentpage. The simplified representation of the current page may comprisecontext information regarding a function of the current page. In someembodiments, the current page may comprise a plurality of functionaloptions, with each functional option of the current page beingconfigured to be acted upon by the user. At least one functional optionof the current page may be configured to lead to a second different pagein response to being acted upon by the user. The second different pagemay be different from the current page and the first different page. Thecontext information regarding a function of the current page maycomprise a visual representation of the plurality of functional optionsof the current page. The contextual breadcrumbs may further comprise aflow from current page to the second different page. In someembodiments, the contextual breadcrumbs may further comprise contextinformation regarding a function of the second different page. In someembodiments, the context information regarding a function of the seconddifferent page may comprise a visual representation of the plurality offunctional options of the second different page. In some embodiments,the current page and the first different page are web pages.

FIG. 1 is a network diagram depicting a client-server system 100, withinwhich one example embodiment may be deployed. A networked system 102, inthe example forms of a network-based marketplace or publication system,provides server-side functionality, via a network 104 (e.g., theInternet or a Wide Area Network (WAN)) to one or more clients. FIG. 1illustrates, for example, a web client 106 (e.g., a browser, such as theInternet Explorer browser developed by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond,Wash. State) and a programmatic client 108 executing on respectiveclient machines 110 and 112.

An application programming interface (API) server 114 and a web server116 are coupled to, and provide programmatic and web interfacesrespectively to, one or more application servers 118. The applicationservers 118 host one or more marketplace applications 120 and paymentapplications 122. The application servers 118 are, in turn, shown to becoupled to one or more database servers 124 that facilitate access toone or more databases 126.

The marketplace applications 120 may provide a number of marketplacefunctions and services to users who access the networked system 102. Thepayment applications 122 may likewise provide a number of paymentservices and functions to users. The payment applications 122 may allowusers to accumulate value (e.g., in a commercial currency, such as theU.S. dollar, or a proprietary currency, such as “points”) in accounts,and then later to redeem the accumulated value for products (e.g., goodsor services) that are made available via the marketplace applications120. While the marketplace and payment applications 120 and 122 areshown in FIG. 1 to both form part of the networked system 102, it willbe appreciated that, in alternative embodiments, the paymentapplications 122 may form part of a payment service that is separate anddistinct from the networked system 102.

Further, while the system 100 shown in FIG. 1 employs a client-serverarchitecture, the embodiments are, of course not limited to such anarchitecture, and could equally well find application in a distributed,or peer-to-peer, architecture system, for example. The variousmarketplace and payment applications 120 and 122 could also beimplemented as standalone software programs, which do not necessarilyhave networking capabilities.

The web client 106 accesses the various marketplace and paymentapplications 120 and 122 via the web interface supported by the webserver 116. Similarly, the programmatic client 108 accesses the variousservices and functions provided by the marketplace and paymentapplications 120 and 122 via the programmatic interface provided by theAPI server 114. The programmatic client 108 may, for example, be aseller application (e.g., the TurboLister application developed by eBayInc., of San Jose, Calif.) to enable sellers to author and managelistings on the networked system 102 in an off-line manner, and toperform batch-mode communications between the programmatic client 108and the networked system 102.

FIG. 1 also illustrates a third party application 128, executing on athird party server machine 130, as having programmatic access to thenetworked system 102 via the programmatic interface provided by the APIserver 114. For example, the third party application 128 may, utilizinginformation retrieved from the networked system 102, support one or morefeatures or functions on a website hosted by the third party. The thirdparty website may, for example, provide one or more promotional,marketplace, or payment functions that are supported by the relevantapplications of the networked system 102.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating multiple marketplace and paymentapplications 120 and 122 that, in one example embodiment, are providedas part of the networked system 102. The applications 120 and 122 may behosted on dedicated or shared server machines (not shown) that arecommunicatively coupled to enable communications between servermachines. The applications 120 and 122 themselves are communicativelycoupled (e.g., via appropriate interfaces) to each other and to variousdata sources, so as to allow information to be passed between theapplications 120 and 122 or so as to allow the applications 120 and 122to share and access common data. The applications 120 and 122 may,furthermore, access one or more databases 126 via the database servers124.

The networked system 102 may provide a number of publishing, listing,and price-setting mechanisms whereby a seller may list (or publishinformation concerning) goods or services for sale, a buyer can expressinterest in or indicate a desire to purchase such goods or services, anda price can be set for a transaction pertaining to the goods orservices. To this end, the marketplace and payment applications 120 and122 are shown to include at least one publication application 200 andone or more auction applications 202, which support auction-formatlisting and price setting mechanisms (e.g., English, Dutch, Vickrey,Chinese, Double, Reverse auctions etc.). The various auctionapplications 202 may also provide a number of features in support ofsuch auction-format listings, such as a reserve price feature whereby aseller may specify a reserve price in connection with a listing and aproxy-bidding feature whereby a bidder may invoke automated proxybidding.

A number of fixed-price applications 204 support fixed-price listingformats (e.g., the traditional classified advertisement-type listing ora catalogue listing) and buyout-type listings. Specifically, buyout-typelistings (e.g., including the Buy-It-Now (BIN) technology developed byeBay Inc., of San Jose, Calif.) may be offered in conjunction withauction-format listings, and allow a buyer to purchase goods orservices, which are also being offered for sale via an auction, for afixed-price that is typically higher than the starting price of theauction.

Store applications 206 allow a seller to group listings within a“virtual” store, which may be branded and otherwise personalized by andfor the seller. Such a virtual store may also offer promotions,incentives, and features that are specific and personalized to arelevant seller.

Reputation applications 208 allow users who transact, utilizing thenetworked system 102, to establish, build, and maintain reputations,which may be made available and published to potential trading partners.Consider that where, for example, the networked system 102 supportsperson-to-person trading, users may otherwise have no history or otherreference information whereby the trustworthiness and credibility ofpotential trading partners may be assessed. The reputation applications208 allow a user (e.g., through feedback provided by other transactionpartners) to establish a reputation within the networked system 102 overtime. Other potential trading partners may then reference such areputation for the purposes of assessing credibility andtrustworthiness.

Personalization applications 210 allow users of the networked system 102to personalize various aspects of their interactions with the networkedsystem 102. For example a user may, utilizing an appropriatepersonalization application 210, create a personalized reference page onwhich information regarding transactions to which the user is (or hasbeen) a party may be viewed. Further, a personalization application 210may enable a user to personalize listings and other aspects of theirinteractions with the networked system 102 and other parties.

The networked system 102 may support a number of marketplaces that arecustomized, for example, for specific geographic regions. A version ofthe networked system 102 may be customized for the United Kingdom,whereas another version of the networked system 102 may be customizedfor the United States. Each of these versions may operate as anindependent marketplace or may be customized (or internationalized)presentations of a common underlying marketplace. The networked system102 may, accordingly, include a number of internationalizationapplications 212 that customize information (and/or the presentation ofinformation) by the networked system 102 according to predeterminedcriteria (e.g., geographic, demographic or marketplace criteria). Forexample, the internationalization applications 212 may be used tosupport the customization of information for a number of regionalwebsites that are operated by the networked system 102 and that areaccessible via respective web servers 116.

Navigation of the networked system 102 may be facilitated by one or morenavigation applications 214. For example, a search application (as anexample of a navigation application 214) may enable key word searches oflistings published via the networked system 102. A browse applicationmay allow users to browse various category, catalogue, or inventory datastructures according to which listings may be classified within thenetworked system 102. Various other navigation applications 214 may beprovided to supplement the search and browsing applications. In someembodiments, the navigation application(s) 214 may be configured tocause a first web page to be displayed on a device, receive a useraction on the first web page, and cause a second web page to bedisplayed on the device in response to the user action.

In order to make the listings available via the networked system 102 asvisually informing and attractive as possible, the applications 120 and122 may include one or more imaging applications 216, which users mayutilize to upload images for inclusion within listings. An imagingapplication 216 also operates to incorporate images within viewedlistings. The imaging applications 216 may also support one or morepromotional features, such as image galleries that are presented topotential buyers. For example, sellers may pay an additional fee to havean image included within a gallery of images for promoted items.

Listing creation applications 218 allow sellers to conveniently authorlistings pertaining to goods or services that they wish to transact viathe networked system 102, and listing management applications 220 allowsellers to manage such listings. Specifically, where a particular sellerhas authored and/or published a large number of listings, the managementof such listings may present a challenge. The listing managementapplications 220 provide a number of features (e.g., auto-relisting,inventory level monitors, etc.) to assist the seller in managing suchlistings. One or more post-listing management applications 222 alsoassist sellers with a number of activities that typically occurpost-listing. For example, upon completion of an auction facilitated byone or more auction applications 202, a seller may wish to leavefeedback regarding a particular buyer. To this end, a post-listingmanagement application 222 may provide an interface to one or morereputation applications 208, so as to allow the seller conveniently toprovide feedback regarding multiple buyers to the reputationapplications 208.

Dispute resolution applications 224 provide mechanisms whereby disputesarising between transacting parties may be resolved. For example, thedispute resolution applications 224 may provide guided procedureswhereby the parties are guided through a number of steps in an attemptto settle a dispute. In the event that the dispute cannot be settled viathe guided procedures, the dispute may be escalated to a third partymediator or arbitrator.

A number of fraud prevention applications 226 implement fraud detectionand prevention mechanisms to reduce the occurrence of fraud within thenetworked system 102.

Messaging applications 228 are responsible for the generation anddelivery of messages to users of the networked system 102, such as, forexample, messages advising users regarding the status of listings at thenetworked system 102 (e.g., providing “outbid” notices to bidders duringan auction process or to providing promotional and merchandisinginformation to users). Respective messaging applications 228 may utilizeany one of a number of message delivery networks and platforms todeliver messages to users. For example, messaging applications 228 maydeliver electronic mail (e-mail), instant message (IM), Short MessageService (SMS), text, facsimile, or voice (e.g., Voice over IP (VoIP))messages via the wired (e.g., the Internet), Plain Old Telephone Service(POTS), or wireless (e.g., mobile, cellular, WiFi, WiMAX) networks.

Merchandising applications 230 support various merchandising functionsthat are made available to sellers to enable sellers to increase salesvia the networked system 102. The merchandising applications 230 alsooperate the various merchandising features that may be invoked bysellers, and may monitor and track the success of merchandisingstrategies employed by sellers.

The networked system 102 itself, or one or more parties that transactvia the networked system 102, may operate loyalty programs that aresupported by one or more loyalty/promotions applications 232. Forexample, a buyer may earn loyalty or promotion points for eachtransaction established and/or concluded with a particular seller, andbe offered a reward for which accumulated loyalty points can beredeemed.

One or more contextual breadcrumb applications 234 may be configured tocause contextual breadcrumbs to be displayed on a page. As previouslydiscussed, the page may be web page. However, it is contemplated thatother types of pages are also within the scope of the presentdisclosure, including, but not limited to, the pages of a softwareapplication that are displayed on a device (e.g., a software applicationon a mobile device). The contextual breadcrumbs may comprise asimplified representation of another page. The simplified representationof the other page may comprise context information regarding a functionof the other page. This other page may be a page that has already beendisplayed or a page that may possibly be subsequently displayed in aflow of pages of which the page currently being displayed is a part. Thecontextual breadcrumbs may also comprise a simplified representation ofthe page currently being displayed. The simplified representation of thecurrently-displayed page may comprise context information regarding afunction of the currently-displayed page. Additional features of thecontextual breadcrumbs will be discussed in further detail below.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of contextual breadcrumbs 300.In FIG. 3, it may be assumed that a current page in a flow of pages iscurrently being displayed. Contextual breadcrumbs 300 may comprisesimplified representations 310 and 320 of previous pages in the flow ofpages. In some embodiments, contextual breadcrumbs 300 may comprisesimplified representations of all of the previous pages in a flow ofpages for a single website. For example, in some embodiments, thecontextual breadcrumbs 300 may comprise simplified representations ofall of the pages between the home page of the website and the currentpage.

In some embodiments, contextual breadcrumbs 300 may comprise a visualrepresentation of the flow from one previous page to another. Forexample, in some embodiments, an arrow (or some other connectionindicator) 330 may be used to visually represent the flow from oneprevious page to another. In some embodiments, this visualrepresentation may be achieved by displaying the arrow 330 between thesimplified representation of one previous page 310 and the simplifiedrepresentation of another previous page 320.

In some embodiments, the simplified representations 310 and 320 may eachcomprise context information 312 and 322, respectively, of the pagesthey respectively represent. In some embodiments, the contextinformation 312 and 322 comprises information regarding a function ofthe respective page. For example, if simplified representation 310represents a search page previously displayed in a flow of pages and onwhich a search query may be entered, and if simplified representation320 represents a previously-displayed search results page for theentered search query in the flow of pages, context information 312 maycomprise information indicating the function of the previously-displayedsearch page, and even the entered search query, and context information322 may comprise information indicating the function of the searchresults page. This information regarding the function of the pages forwhich the simplified representations 310 and 320 respectively representprovides valuable context information to the user.

In some embodiments, the context information of a page may comprise avisual representation of one or more functional options of the page. Thefunctional options of a page may comprise actionable interface elements,which are elements that a user may act upon. Examples of actionableinterface elements include, but are not limited to, selectable links orwidgets, textual input elements, and non-textual input elements. In FIG.3, context information 312 may comprise one functional option(Functional Option 1) and context information 322 may comprise twofunctional options (Functional Option 2 and Functional Option 3). It iscontemplated that other configurations are within the scope of thepresent disclosure. In some embodiments, the visual representation ofthe functional option(s) may comprise one or more selectable links. Forexample, if a page is a search results page, the context information ofthat page may comprise a visual representation of the selectable searchresults on that page. It is contemplated that other forms of functionaloptions are within the scope of the present disclosure. In someembodiments, a functional option of a previous page may be acted upon bya user on the current page via engagement with the functional option inthe visual representation being displayed on the current page. In thesearch results page example discussed above, the user may select (e.g.,click or tap) one of the selectable search results in the contextualbreadcrumbs on the current page. This selection of the search result inthe contextual breadcrumbs may be treated as the equivalent of the usermaking the selection directly from the search results page.

FIG. 4 illustrates another example embodiment of contextual breadcrumbs400. Contextual breadcrumbs 400 may comprise the same elements ascontextual breadcrumbs 300 in FIG. 3. However, contextual breadcrumbs400 may also comprise an arrow (or some other connection indicator) 440connected to the last simplified representation 320 in the flow in orderto help visually represent the flow from the page of this lastsimplified representation 320 to the current page (which does not have asimplified representation in FIG. 3 or in FIG. 4). This hanging arrow440 may represent the fact that there are no more previous pages in theflow of pages.

FIG. 5 illustrates yet another example embodiment of contextualbreadcrumbs 500. Contextual breadcrumbs 500 may comprise the sameelements as contextual breadcrumbs 400 in FIG. 4. However, contextualbreadcrumbs 500 may also comprise a simplified representation 550 of thecurrent page. Similar to the simplified representations 310 and 320 ofthe previous pages, the simplified representation 550 of the currentpage may comprise context information 552 of the current page and one ormore functional options of the current page (e.g., Functional Option 4and Functional Option 5). The context information 552 of the currentpage may comprise any of the features discussed above with respect tothe context information 312 and 322 in FIGS. 3 and 4. The one or morefunctional options of the current page may also comprise any of thefeatures discussed above with respect to the one or more functionaloptions in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates yet another example embodiment of contextualbreadcrumbs 600. Contextual breadcrumbs 600 may comprise the sameelements as contextual breadcrumbs 500 in FIG. 5. However, contextualbreadcrumbs 600 may also comprise a simplified representation 660 of analternative page. The simplified representation 660 of an alternativepage may represent a page that would have resulted from the user makinga different functional decision on one of the previous pages. Forexample, if the simplified representation 320 represents a searchresults page having multiple selectable search results, the user mayhave selected the first search result, thereby causing the resultingpage for that search result to be displayed as the current page, whichmay be represented in the contextual breadcrumbs by the simplifiedrepresentation 550 of the current page. Since the user had thefunctional option of selecting a different search result, such as asecond search result, a simplified representation 660 of a pageresulting from the selection of this different search result may beincluded in the visual breadcrumbs 600 in order to inform the user as towhat course of action he or she could have taken. The contextualbreadcrumbs 600 may also comprise an arrow (or some other connectionindicator) 670 connecting the simplified representation 320 of theprevious page, from where the user may have made a different functionaldecision than the functional decision that resulted in the current page,to the simplified representation 660 of the alternative page.

Similar to the simplified representations 310 and 320 of the previouspages and the simplified representation 550 of the current page, thesimplified representation 660 of the alternative page may comprisecontext information 662 of the alternative page. The context information662 of the alternative page may comprise any of the features discussedabove with respect to the context information 312, 322, and 552 in FIGS.3, 4, and 5. The context information 662 of the alternative page mayalso comprise one or more functional options of the alternative page.The one or more functional options of the current page may also compriseany of the features discussed above with respect to the one or morefunctional options in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. In FIG. 6, no functionaloptions are shown in the simplified representation 660 of thealternative page, indicating that no functional options are available onthe particular alternative page being represented. It is contemplatedthat some functional options of a page may be represented in thesimplified representation of that page, while other functional optionsof the page may not be represented in the simplified representation ofthat page.

FIG. 7 illustrates yet another example embodiment of contextualbreadcrumbs 700. Contextual breadcrumbs 700 may comprise the sameelements as contextual breadcrumbs 500 in FIG. 5. However, contextualbreadcrumbs 700 may also comprise one or more simplified representationsof possible future pages. The simplified representation 780 of apossible future page may represent a page that can result from the usermaking a functional decision on the current page. For example, if thesimplified representation 550 represents a currently-displayed searchresults page having multiple selectable search results, the user mayhave the option of selecting the first search result, which would causethe resulting page for that search result to be displayed. Thisresulting page of the first search result may be represented in thecontextual breadcrumbs by the simplified representation 780 of thisfirst possible future page. Since the user may have the functionaloption of selecting a different search result, such as a second searchresult, a simplified representation 790 of a page resulting from theselection of this second search result may be included in the visualbreadcrumbs 700 in order to inform the user as to what course of actionhe or she may take and the consequences of such action. The contextualbreadcrumbs 700 may also comprise arrows (or some other connectionindicators) 775 and 785 connecting the simplified representation 550 ofthe current page, from where the user may make different functionaldecisions that result in different possible future pages, to thesimplified representations 780 and 790 of these possible future pages.

Similar to the simplified representations previously discussed, thesimplified representations 780 and 790 of the possible future pages maycomprise context information 782 and 792, respectively, of the possiblefuture pages. The context information 782 and 792 of the possible futurepages may comprise any of the features discussed above with respect tothe context information previously discussed. The context information782 and 792 of the possible future pages may also comprise one or morefunctional options of the possible future pages. The one or morefunctional options of the possible future pages may also comprise any ofthe features of the one or more functional options previously discussed.In FIG. 7, no functional options are shown in the simplifiedrepresentation 780 of the first possible future page, indicating that nofunctional options are available on the first possible future page beingrepresented. However, in FIG. 7, the context information 792 in thesimplified representation 790 of the second possible future page isshown as comprising one functional option (Functional Option 6). It iscontemplated that some functional options of a page may be representedin the simplified representation of that page, while other functionaloptions of the page may not be represented in the simplifiedrepresentation of that page

It is contemplated that any combination of the features of thecontextual breadcrumbs in FIGS. 3-7 may be employed. Additionally, anynumber of simplified representations of previous pages, current pages,alternative pages, possible future pages, and functional options may beused. Furthermore, the contextual breadcrumbs may be configured toenable the user to navigate his or her way to a page by selecting (e.g.,clicking) the simplified representation of that page. In this fashion,the user may use the contextual breadcrumbs to load a certain page(e.g., the last page the user viewed on the website) instead of usingthe navigation bar on the web browser (e.g., clicking the back button).

FIGS. 8A-8G illustrate an example embodiment of a flow of multiple pagesaccompanied by contextual breadcrumbs. The contextual breadcrumbs ofFIGS. 8A-8G are similar to the contextual breadcrumbs 300 of FIG. 3,where simplified representations of previous pages are displayed on thecurrent page, but simplified representations of the current page,alternative pages, and possible future pages are not displayed. However,it is contemplated that any of the forms of contextual breadcrumbs inFIGS. 3-7 may be employed. Additionally, other forms of contextualbreadcrumbs are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

The flow of multiple pages may be for a single website. FIG. 8Aillustrates an example embodiment of one page 800 a in a flow of pagesfor a website being displayed in a web browser. In some embodiments, theweb browser comprises a navigation bar 805. The navigation bar 805 maycomprise a selectable back button to enable a user to go to the previouspage and a selectable forward button to enable a user to go the nextpage, as well as an address bar to enable a user to enter and go to aweb address. It is contemplated that the navigation bar 805 may compriseother functional and non-functional components as well.

In some embodiments, the single website may be an e-commerce site.However, it is contemplated that other types of websites are within thescope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the page 800 a maybe a home page of the website. The page 800 a may comprise a body 810.The body 810 may comprise a variety of content, including, but notlimited to, a website or company logo 801, categories that may bebrowsed 802, featured deals or offers 803, general information 804regarding the website and functions that may be performed on thewebsite, advertisements 806, featured item listings 807 with imagetitles and corresponding images of the images, and basic content 808that may be displayed on every page of the site. Some of the content inthe body may be selectable and some of the content in the body may notbe selectable. Page 800 a may also comprise a search field 812 forentering one or more query terms and a selectable search button 814 tocause a search on the one or more entered query terms when activated bya user.

FIG. 8B illustrates an example embodiment of the next page 800 b in theflow of pages, which may be a search results page provided in responseto a search being performed on the query terms “cell phone” on page 800a. The body 810 of the search results page may comprise a search resultssection 840. The search results section 840 may comprise multiple itemlistings (e.g., cell phone item listings). Each item listing maycomprise an image of an item 842, a title or name of the item listing844, and a price of the item 846. It is contemplated that otherconfigurations are within the scope of the present disclosure. In FIG.8B, the page 800 b displays four item listings in the search resultssection 840 with the following titles: VG8485 Clamshell Cell Phone withCamera, KR9541 Blue Smartphone, PX7328 Smartphone 3G-8GB, and HC4175Black Cell Phone.

Page 800 b may comprise a contextual breadcrumbs section 820 fordisplaying contextual breadcrumbs. The contextual breadcrumbs section820 may comprise a simplified representation 821 of page 800 a in FIG.8A. The simplified representation 821 may comprise context informationregarding a function of the page 800 a. For example, the contextinformation may comprise an identification of page 800 a as a page onwhich a search was performed, which may be represented by the label“Search” 822 and a visual representation of the search box 823 with thequery terms for which the search was performed (e.g., “cell phone”).

FIG. 8C illustrates an example embodiment of the next page 800 c in theflow of pages, which may be an item listing page for one of the searchresults displayed in FIG. 8B. The item listing page may be provided inresponse to a user selecting (e.g., clicking) one of the search resultsdisplayed in FIG. 8B. The item listing page may comprise a title or namefor the item of the item listing 850, an image of the item 851, a priceof the item 852, a product description 853, and shipping options for theitem 854. In some embodiments, the item listing page may also comprise aquantity field 855 for a user to enter a quantity of the item the userwants to purchase, a selectable “Add to Cart” button 856 for a user toadd the entered quantity of the item to a shopping cart, and aselectable “Add to Watch List” button 857 for a user to add the itemlisting to a watch list so that the user may be notified of a change instatus of the item listing.

In the contextual breadcrumbs section 820 of page 800 c, a simplifiedrepresentation 824 of page 800 b may be added. In some embodiments, avisual representation of the flow from page 800 a to page 800 b may berepresented in the contextual breadcrumbs. For example, an arrow (orsome other connection indicator) may be used to show this flow. Thesimplified representation 824 may comprise context information regardinga function of the page 800 b. For example, the context information maycomprise an identification of page 800 b as a page on which searchresults were provided, which may be represented by the label “SearchResults” 825 and a visual representation of the search results 826. Insome embodiments, the context information may comprise a visualrepresentation of a selection or action of the user. For example, thevisual representation of the search results 826 may comprise anindication of which search result the user selected (e.g., KR9541). Thisindication may be provided in the form of the selected search resultbeing underlined. However, it is contemplated that other forms ofvisually indicating a user action are within the scope of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8D illustrates an example embodiment of the next page 800 d in theflow of pages, which may be a shopping cart page. The shopping cart pagemay be provided in response to a user selecting (e.g., clicking) the“Add to Cart” button 856 in FIG. 8C. The shopping cart page may compriseinformation about any item that has been added to the shopping cart ofthe website. For example, the shopping cart page may comprise the titleor name for the item of the item listing 850, the image of the item 851,the price of the item 852, and the quantity of the item in the shoppingcart 855. The shopping cart page may also comprise a shipping option 864for the item and a shipping price 858 corresponding to the shippingoption 864. In some embodiments, the shipping option 864 may be changedusing a selectable mechanism 865 (e.g., a drop down menu). The shoppingcart page may also comprise a subtotal 861 for the price of all of theitems in the shopping cart, a total shipping cost 862 for all of theitems in the shopping cart, and the total purchase and shipping costs860 for all of the items in the shopping cart. The shopping cart pagemay additionally comprise a selectable “Continue Shopping” button 866 toenable the user to return to one of the previous pages (e.g., the searchresults page) and a selectable “Proceed to Checkout” button 867 toenable the user to proceed to a checkout page, where the user may gothrough a checkout process for the items in the shopping cart.

In the contextual breadcrumbs section 820 of page 800 d, a simplifiedrepresentation 827 of page 800 c may be added. In some embodiments, avisual representation of the flow from page 800 b to page 800 c may berepresented in the contextual breadcrumbs. For example, an arrow (orsome other connection indicator) may be used to show this flow. Thesimplified representation 827 may comprise context information regardinga function of the page 800 c. For example, the context information maycomprise an identification of page 800 c as a page on which an itemlisting was viewed, which may be represented by the label “View” 828. Insome embodiments, the context information may comprise a simplifiedversion some of the details of the viewed item listing. In someembodiments, these details may comprise the title of the item listing(e.g., KR9541), the price of the item (e.g., $40.00), and the image ofthe item. In some embodiments, the context information may comprise avisual representation of a selection or action of the user. For example,in FIG. 8D, the context information in simplified representation 827 maycomprise a visual representation 829 of the quantity of the item thatthe user added to the shopping cart (e.g., 1).

In some embodiments, the contextual breadcrumbs may be configured toenable a user to act upon functional options that are visuallyrepresented in the simplified representation of a page. For example,although the shopping cart page is being displayed in FIG. 8D, the usermay select one of the search results visually represented in thesimplified representation 824 of the search result page. As a result ofthis user action (e.g., clicking) on a functional option (e.g., aselectable link for an item listing in the search results) in thesimplified representation, the selected functional option may beperformed. In this example, if the user clicks on “PX7328” in thesimplified representation 824 of FIG. 8D, the item listing page for thecorresponding item listing may be displayed.

FIG. 8E illustrates an example embodiment of the page 800 c, which maybe an item listing page for the item listing selected in the simplifiedrepresentation 824 of FIG. 8D (e.g., PX7328). The item listing page maycomprise a title or name for the item of the item listing 870, an imageof the item 871, a price of the item 872, a product description 873, andshipping options for the item 874. In some embodiments, the item listingpage may also comprise a quantity field 875 for a user to enter aquantity of the item the user wants to purchase, a selectable “Add toCart” button 876 for a user to add the entered quantity of the item to ashopping cart, and a selectable “Add to Watch List” button 877 for auser to add the item listing to a watch list so that the user may benotified of a change in status of the item listing.

In the contextual breadcrumbs section 820 of page 800 e, a simplifiedrepresentation 830 of page 800 d may be added. In some embodiments, avisual representation of the flow from page 800 c to page 800 d may berepresented in the contextual breadcrumbs. For example, an arrow (orsome other connection indicator) may be used to show this flow. Thesimplified representation 830 may comprise context information regardinga function of the page 800 d. For example, the context information maycomprise an identification of page 800 d as a shopping cart page, whichmay be represented by the label “Cart” 831. In some embodiments, thecontext information may comprise a simplified version some of thedetails of the items in the shopping cart. In some embodiments, thesedetails may comprise the title of the item listing (e.g., KR9541) andthe price of the item (e.g., $40.00). The context information insimplified representation 830 may also comprise a visual representation832 of the quantity of the item in shopping cart (e.g., 1).Additionally, the context information may comprise a visualrepresentation 833 of the shipping option (e.g., Economy Shipping) forthe item in the shopping cart. As previously discussed, in someembodiments, the contextual breadcrumbs may be configured to enable auser to act upon functional options that are visually represented in thesimplified representation of a page. For example, in some embodiments,the shipping option may be changed using a selectable mechanism 834(e.g., a drop down menu) in the simplified representation 830 of theshopping cart page rather than going to the shopping cart page andchanging the shipping option from there. However, in some embodiments,the contextual breadcrumbs may be configured to cause the correspondingweb page of a simplified representation to be displayed in response to aselection (e.g., clicking) of the simplified representation, and theuser may then make a change to a functional option of a page from theactual page.

FIG. 8F illustrates an example embodiment of the shopping cart page 800d. The shopping cart page may be provided in response to a userselecting (e.g., clicking) the “Add to Cart” button 876 in FIG. 8E,which may add the item (e.g., PX7328) of the item listing in FIG. 8E tothe shopping cart. The shopping cart page 800 d may comprise the sameinformation as it did in FIG. 8D, but may also include information aboutan item that has been added to the shopping cart of the website. Forexample, the shopping cart page may comprise the title or name for theitem of the item listing 870, the image of the item 871, the price ofthe item 872, and the quantity of the item in the shopping cart 875. Theshopping cart page may also comprise a shipping option 884 for the itemand a shipping price 878 corresponding to the shipping option 884. Insome embodiments, the shipping option 884 may be changed using aselectable mechanism 885 (e.g., a drop down menu).

In the contextual breadcrumbs section 820 of page 800 d in FIG. 8F, asimplified representation 835 of page 800 e may be added. In someembodiments, a visual representation of the flow from page 800 b to page800 e may be represented in the contextual breadcrumbs. For example, anarrow (or some other connection indicator) may be used to show thisflow. The simplified representation 835 may comprise context informationregarding a function of the page 800 e. For example, the contextinformation may comprise an identification of page 800 e as a page onwhich an item listing was viewed, which may be represented by the label“View” 836. In some embodiments, the context information may comprise asimplified version of some of the details of the viewed item listing. Insome embodiments, these details may comprise the title of the itemlisting (e.g., PX7328), the price of the item (e.g., $60.00), and theimage of the item. In some embodiments, the context information maycomprise a visual representation of a selection or action of the user.For example, in FIG. 8F, the context information in simplifiedrepresentation 835 may comprise a visual representation 837 of thequantity of the item that the user added to the shopping cart (e.g., 1).

As previously discussed, in some embodiments, the contextual breadcrumbsmay be configured to enable a user to act upon functional options thatare visually represented in the simplified representation of a page. Forexample, the user may change one of the functional options visuallyrepresented in the simplified representation 830 of the shopping cart.As a result of this user action on a functional option in the simplifiedrepresentation 830, the selected functional option may be performed. Inthis example, the user may change the shipping option 833 for item“KR9541” from “Economy Shipping” to “Expedited Shipping” by using theselectable mechanism 834. As a result of the user changing the shippingoption 833 in the simplified representation 830, a corresponding changemay be made to the shipping option 864 in the shopping cart.

FIG. 8G illustrates an example embodiment of the shopping cart page 800d, where the user has changed the shipping option 864 in the shoppingcart from “Economy Shipping” to “Expedited Shipping” by changing theshipping option 833 in the simplified representation 830. The change inone functional element may change other functional elements as well. Forexample, changing the shipping option 833 in the simplifiedrepresentation 830 may not only change the shipping option 864 in theshopping cart, but it may also change the shipping price 858 (e.g., fromFREE to $5.95), the total shipping cost 862, and the total purchase andshipping costs 860.

In some embodiments, the changing of properties for a functional elementin a simplified representation may be conditioned upon the change notcontradicting or invalidating any other functional element of asimplified representation. In some embodiments, a functional element maybe changed even if the change does contradict or invalidate anotherfunctional element of a simplified representation. In some embodiments,the simplified representation of the functional element that is affectedby this contradictory or invalidating change may be visually presentedin a form indicating the contradiction or invalidation. In someembodiments, the affected simplified representation or the affectedfunctional element may be displayed in a distinguishing color toindicate how it is affected. For example, the affected simplifiedrepresentation may be colored red to indicate that one of its functionalelements is in an error state or an inconsistent state. It iscontemplated that other visual indications of a contradictory orinvalidating action/state may be employed as well.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example method 900 of providingcontextual breadcrumbs. At operation 910, a first different page may becaused to be displayed on a device. In some embodiments, the firstdifferent page may be a part of a flow of multiple pages. In someembodiments, the flow of multiple pages may be for a single website(e.g., an e-commerce website). At operation 920, a user action for thefirst different page may be received. Many different types of useractions may be employed, including, but not limited to, activating aselectable link or button to load another page. In some embodiments,this activation may be performed after the user enters information(e.g., a keyword in a search field). At operation 930, a current pagemay be caused to be displayed on the device in response to the useraction received at operation 920. Contextual breadcrumbs may bedisplayed on the current page. The contextual breadcrumbs may comprise asimplified representation of the first different page. The simplifiedrepresentation of the first different page may comprise contextinformation regarding a function of the first different page. Thiscontext information may comprise a visual representation of one or morefunctional options configured to be acted upon by a user and provided onthe first different page. In some embodiments, the contextualbreadcrumbs may be configured to enable the user to act upon afunctional option of the first different page from the current page. Atoperation 940, a user action may be received for a functional optionthat is presented in the contextual breadcrumbs. For example, the usermay select a link that is presented in the simplified representation ofthe first different page in the contextual breadcrumbs while the user ison the current page. At operation 950, the functional option, for whichthe user action is received, may be performed. For example, if the userselected a link in the simplified representation of the first differentpage, then a page corresponding to that link may be loaded. Other useractions and functional options are also within the scope of the presentdisclosure.

Modules, Components and Logic

Certain embodiments are described herein as including logic or a numberof components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules may constitute eithersoftware modules (e.g., code embodied on a machine-readable medium or ina transmission signal) or hardware modules. A hardware module is atangible unit capable of performing certain operations and may beconfigured or arranged in a certain manner. In example embodiments, oneor more computer systems (e.g., a standalone, client, or server computersystem) or one or more hardware modules of a computer system (e.g., aprocessor or a group of processors) may be configured by software (e.g.,an application or application portion) as a hardware module thatoperates to perform certain operations as described herein.

In various embodiments, a hardware module may be implementedmechanically or electronically. For example, a hardware module maycomprise dedicated circuitry or logic that is permanently configured(e.g., as a special-purpose processor, such as a field programmable gatearray (FPGA) or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) toperform certain operations. A hardware module may also compriseprogrammable logic or circuitry (e.g., as encompassed within ageneral-purpose processor or other programmable processor) that istemporarily configured by software to perform certain operations. Itwill be appreciated that the decision to implement a hardware modulemechanically, in dedicated and permanently configured circuitry, or intemporarily configured circuitry (e.g., configured by software) may bedriven by cost and time considerations.

Accordingly, the term “hardware module” should be understood toencompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that is physicallyconstructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired) or temporarilyconfigured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain manner and/or toperform certain operations described herein. Considering embodiments inwhich hardware modules are temporarily configured (e.g., programmed),each of the hardware modules need not be configured or instantiated atany one instance in time. For example, where the hardware modulescomprise a general-purpose processor configured using software, thegeneral-purpose processor may be configured as respective differenthardware modules at different times. Software may accordingly configurea processor, for example, to constitute a particular hardware module atone instance of time and to constitute a different hardware module at adifferent instance of time.

Hardware modules can provide information to, and receive informationfrom, other hardware modules. Accordingly, the described hardwaremodules may be regarded as being communicatively coupled. Where multipleof such hardware modules exist contemporaneously, communications may beachieved through signal transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuitsand buses) that connect the hardware modules. In embodiments in whichmultiple hardware modules are configured or instantiated at differenttimes, communications between such hardware modules may be achieved, forexample, through the storage and retrieval of information in memorystructures to which the multiple hardware modules have access. Forexample, one hardware module may perform an operation and store theoutput of that operation in a memory device to which it iscommunicatively coupled. A further hardware module may then, at a latertime, access the memory device to retrieve and process the storedoutput. Hardware modules may also initiate communications with input oroutput devices and can operate on a resource (e.g., a collection ofinformation).

The various operations of example methods described herein may beperformed, at least partially, by one or more processors that aretemporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured toperform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanentlyconfigured, such processors may constitute processor-implemented modulesthat operate to perform one or more operations or functions. The modulesreferred to herein may, in some example embodiments, compriseprocessor-implemented modules.

Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partiallyprocessor-implemented. For example, at least some of the operations of amethod may be performed by one or more processors orprocessor-implemented modules. The performance of certain of theoperations may be distributed among the one or more processors, not onlyresiding within a single machine, but deployed across a number ofmachines. In some example embodiments, the processor or processors maybe located in a single location (e.g., within a home environment, anoffice environment or as a server farm), while in other embodiments theprocessors may be distributed across a number of locations.

The one or more processors may also operate to support performance ofthe relevant operations in a “cloud computing” environment or as a“software as a service” (SaaS). For example, at least some of theoperations may be performed by a group of computers (as examples ofmachines including processors), these operations being accessible via anetwork (e.g., the network 104 of FIG. 1) and via one or moreappropriate interfaces (e.g., APIs).

Electronic Apparatus and System

Example embodiments may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry,or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them.Example embodiments may be implemented using a computer program product,e.g., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier,e.g., in a machine-readable medium for execution by, or to control theoperation of, data processing apparatus, e.g., a programmable processor,a computer, or multiple computers.

A computer program can be written in any form of programming language,including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed inany form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, subroutine,or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computerprogram can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiplecomputers at one site or distributed across multiple sites andinterconnected by a communication network.

In example embodiments, operations may be performed by one or moreprogrammable processors executing a computer program to performfunctions by operating on input data and generating output. Methodoperations can also be performed by, and apparatus of exampleembodiments may be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry(e.g., a FPGA or an ASIC).

A computing system can include clients and servers. A client and serverare generally remote from each other and typically interact through acommunication network. The relationship of client and server arises byvirtue of computer programs running on the respective computers andhaving a client-server relationship to each other. In embodimentsdeploying a programmable computing system, it will be appreciated thatboth hardware and software architectures merit consideration.Specifically, it will be appreciated that the choice of whether toimplement certain functionality in permanently configured hardware(e.g., an ASIC), in temporarily configured hardware (e.g., a combinationof software and a programmable processor), or a combination ofpermanently and temporarily configured hardware may be a design choice.Below are set out hardware (e.g., machine) and software architecturesthat may be deployed, in various example embodiments.

Example Machine Architecture and Machine-Readable Medium

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a machine in the example form of acomputer system 1000 within which instructions for causing the machineto perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may beexecuted. In alternative embodiments, the machine operates as astandalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to othermachines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in thecapacity of a server or a client machine in a server-client networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment. The machine may be a personal computer (PC), atablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), acellular telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge,or any machine capable of executing instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further,while only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The example computer system 1000 includes a processor 1002 (e.g., acentral processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU) orboth), a main memory 1004 and a static memory 1006, which communicatewith each other via a bus 1008. The computer system 1000 may furtherinclude a video display unit 1010 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD)or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system 1000 also includes analphanumeric input device 1012 (e.g., a keyboard), a user interface (UI)navigation (or cursor control) device 1014 (e.g., a mouse), a disk driveunit 1016, a signal generation device 1018 (e.g., a speaker) and anetwork interface device 1020.

Machine-Readable Medium

The disk drive unit 1016 includes a machine-readable medium 1022 onwhich is stored one or more sets of data structures and instructions1024 (e.g., software) embodying or utilized by any one or more of themethodologies or functions described herein. The instructions 1024 mayalso reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory1004 and/or within the processor 1002 during execution thereof by thecomputer system 1000, the main memory 1004 and the processor 1002 alsoconstituting machine-readable media. The instructions 1024 may alsoreside, completely or at least partially, within the static memory 1006.

While the machine-readable medium 1022 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” may include asingle medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributeddatabase, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one ormore instructions 1024 or data structures. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any tangible medium that iscapable of storing, encoding or carrying instructions for execution bythe machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present embodiments, or that is capable of storing,encoding or carrying data structures utilized by or associated with suchinstructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly betaken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, andoptical and magnetic media. Specific examples of machine-readable mediainclude non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductormemory devices (e.g., Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM),Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), and flashmemory devices); magnetic disks such as internal hard disks andremovable disks; magneto-optical disks; and compact disc-read-onlymemory (CD-ROM) and digital versatile disc (or digital video disc)read-only memory (DVD-ROM) disks.

Transmission Medium

The instructions 1024 may further be transmitted or received over acommunications network 1026 using a transmission medium. Theinstructions 1024 may be transmitted using the network interface device1020 and any one of a number of well-known transfer protocols (e.g.,HTTP). Examples of communication networks include a LAN, a WAN, theInternet, mobile telephone networks, POTS networks, and wireless datanetworks (e.g., WiFi and WiMax networks). The term “transmission medium”shall be taken to include any intangible medium capable of storing,encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by the machine, andincludes digital or analog communications signals or other intangiblemedia to facilitate communication of such software.

Although an embodiment has been described with reference to specificexample embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications andchanges may be made to these embodiments without departing from thebroader spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense. The accompanying drawings that form a parthereof show, by way of illustration, and not of limitation, specificembodiments in which the subject matter may be practiced. Theembodiments illustrated are described in sufficient detail to enablethose skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed herein.Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such thatstructural and logical substitutions and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of this disclosure. This Detailed Description,therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope ofvarious embodiments is defined only by the appended claims, along withthe full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it can be seen that various features are grouped togetherin a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed embodiments require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of asingle disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separate embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a client device comprisingone or more processors, a display, and an input mechanism; at least onenavigation application executable by the one or more processors toprovide Internet navigation functionality that includes causing acurrent page to be displayed on the client device, the current pageincluding at least one current actionable user interface (UI) elementthat is selectable by a user, the current actionable (UI) elementcomprising a plurality of selectable elements and an indication of afirst selection; at least one context information application executableby the one or more processors, received as part of the content of thecurrent page, the context information application configured to: (a)cause context information to be displayed on the client device as partof the current page, the context information providing a visualrepresentation of a browsing history leading to the current page, thecontext information including a simplified representation of a previouspage forming part of the browsing history and a simplifiedrepresentation of the current page, the simplified representation of theprevious page comprising at least one previous actionable user interface(UI) element that formed part of the previous page and that isselectable by the user from the current page to cause performance, fromthe current page, of a functional option corresponding to the selectedactionable UI element, the simplified representation of the current pagecomprising at least one additional UI element corresponding to thecurrent actionable UI element included the current page, the at leastone additional actionable UI element being configured to receive inputof a user selection without departing from the current page; and (b) inresponse to user interaction with the displayed context information,modify the display of the context information by: in response to theuser selecting the at least one previous actionable UI element: causingnavigation to the previous page by the navigation application anddisplaying the previous page; performing the functional optioncorresponding to the selected actionable UI element that formed part ofthe previous page; and updating the display of the context informationto reflect the performance of the functional option and the navigationto the previous page; and in response to the user selecting the at leastone additional UI element corresponding to the current actionable UIelement included in the current page: updating the display of thecontext information to reflect the user selection; and changing thecurrent actionable user UI element in the current page from the firstselection to the user selection of the additional UI element in thesimplified representation of the current page.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the functional option of the previous page comprises a textualinput element.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the functional optionof the previous page comprises a non-textual input element.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the functional option of the previous pagecomprises a selectable widget.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the atleast one previous actionable UI element comprises selectable searchresults on the previous page.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the atleast one navigation application is configured to cause, responsive touser-selection of one of the selectable search results in the contextinformation, display on the display of the client device of a searchresults page corresponding to the selected search result.
 7. The systemof claim 1, wherein the visual representation of the browsing historyincludes a visual representation of a flow that includes the visualrepresentation of the previous page.
 8. The system of claim 7, whereinthe visual representation of the flow-provides an indication of anavigation from the simplified representation of the previous page tothe simplified representation of the current page.
 9. A methodcomprising: in an operation performed on a client device comprising oneor more processors, a display, and an input mechanism, using at leastone navigation application executed by the one or more processors toprovide Internet navigation functionality, causing a current page to bedisplayed on a client device, the current page including at least onecurrent actionable user interface (UI) element that is selectable by auser, the current actionable (UI) element comprising a plurality ofselectable elements and an indication of a first selection; and in anautomated operation performed using at least one context informationapplication executed by the one or more processors, received as part ofthe content of the current page, the context application: (a) causingcontext information to be displayed on the client device as part of thecurrent page, the context information providing a visual representationof a browsing history leading to the current page, the contextinformation including a simplified representation of a previous pageforming part of the browsing history and a simplified representation ofthe current page, the simplified representation of the previous pagecomprising at least one previous actionable user interface (UI) elementthat formed part of the previous page and that is selectable by the userfrom the current page to cause performance, from the current page, of afunctional option corresponding to the selected actionable UI element,the simplified representation of the current page comprising at leastone additional UI element corresponding to the current actionable UIelement included the current page, the at least one additionalactionable UI element being configured to receive input of a userselection without departing from the current page; and (b) in responseto user interaction with the displayed context information, modifyingthe display of the context information by: in response to the userselecting the at least one previous actionable UI element: causingnavigation to the previous page by the navigation application anddisplaying the previous page; performing the functional optioncorresponding to the selected actionable UI element that formed part ofthe previous page; and updating the display of the context informationto reflect the performance of the functional option and the navigationto the previous page; and in response to the user selecting the at leastone additional UI element corresponding to the current actionable UIelement included in the current page: updating the display of thecontext information to reflect the user selection; and changing thecurrent actionable user UI element in the current page from the firstselection to the user selection of the additional UI element in thesimplified representation of the current page.
 10. The method of claim9, wherein the functional option of the previous page comprises atextual input element.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the functionaloption of the previous page comprises a non-textual input element. 12.The method of claim 9 wherein the functional option of the previous pagecomprises a selectable widget.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the atleast one previous actionable UI element comprises selectable searchresults on the previous page.
 14. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising, responsive to user-selection of one of the selectable searchresults in the context information, causing the display of display onthe client device of a search result page corresponding to the selectedsearch result.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the visualrepresentation of the browsing history includes a visual representationof a flow that includes the visual representation of the previous page.16. The method of claim 15, wherein the visual representation of theflow provides an indication of a navigation from the simplifiedrepresentation of the previous page to the simplified representation ofthe current page.
 17. A non-transitory computer readable storage mediumstoring instructions for causing a machine, in response to executing theinstructions, to perform operations comprising: causing a current pageto be displayed on a client device comprising one or more processors, adisplay, and an input mechanism using at least one navigationapplication executed by the one or more processors to provide Internetnavigation functionality, providing Internet navigation functionalitythat includes causing a current page to be displayed on the clientdevice, the current page including at least one current actionable userinterface (UI) element that is selectable by a user, the currentactionable (UI) element comprising a plurality of selectable elementsand an indication of a first selection; and in an automated operationperformed using at least one context information application executed bythe one or more processors, received as part of the content of thecurrent page, the context application: (a) causing context informationto be displayed on the client device as part of the current page, thecontext information providing a visual representation of a browsinghistory leading to the current page, the context information including asimplified representation of a previous page forming part of thebrowsing history and a simplified representation of the current page,the simplified representation of the previous page comprising at leastone previous actionable user interface (UI) element that formed part ofthe previous page and that is selectable by the user from the currentpage to cause performance, from the current page, of a functional optioncorresponding to the selected actionable UI element, the simplifiedrepresentation of the current page comprising at least one additional UIelement corresponding to the current actionable UI element included thecurrent page, the at least one additional actionable UI element beingconfigured to receive input of a user selection without departing fromthe current page; and (b) in response to user interaction with thedisplayed context information, modifying the display of the contextinformation by: when the user selects the at least one previousactionable UI element: causing navigation to the previous page by thenavigation application and displaying the previous page; performing thefunctional option corresponding to the selected actionable UI elementthat formed part of the previous page; and updating the display of thecontext information to reflect the performance of the functional optionand the navigation to the previous page; and when the user selects theat least one additional UI element corresponding to the currentactionable UI element included in the current page: updating the displayof the context information to reflect the user selection; and changingthe current actionable user UI element in the current page from thefirst selection to the user selection of the additional UI element inthe simplified representation of the current page.